Month: September 2015

The Bend Energy Challenge Week is in full swing. Agencies based at the Environmental Center are holding events and sharing helpful tips that can save you and your family money. The Challenge is a nationwide energy-saving competition with a $5 million prize that the city could win. The challenge runs until next year, but this

A crash involving two motorcycles on Highway 26 east of Sandy Wednesday morning seriously injured both riders and closed the eastbound highway for about two hours, authorities said. Around 8 a.m., troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a crash involving two motorcycles on Highway 26 near milepost 32, said OSP Lt. Bill

Summer is a long time to be away from a favorite teacher — or in the case of Ponderosa Elementary, a beloved volunteer. “He’s really amazing,” fourth-grader Laina Majcen said Wednesday of long-time volunteer Bill Ruiter. “I call him our cheerleader,” said teacher Nicole Ricketts. “He’s the one that encourages us, because it get so

A big step toward a record-setting glider flight to the edge of space took place successfully Wednesday morning in the skies over Central Oregon with a successful first test flight from Redmond Municipal Airport. The Airbus Perlan 2 glider plane successfully completed its first test flight. The specially designed glider flew to 5,000 feet on

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel is asking for a federal investigation of the Oregon State Police forensic analyst, Nika Larsen, who allegedly tampered with evidence at the crime lab in Bend. “I’ve felt all along that we need someone else than the Oregon State Police investigating the Oregon State Police,” Hummel said Wednesday. On

Linn County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue on Monday afternoon recovered the body of a mountain climber from Bend who fell several hundred feet and died Sunday near the summit of Three Fingered Jack in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. When local climbers heard the news, many began pulling out maps, trying to figure out where it

Central Oregon students have a chance to devise new ways to confront natural disaster in the 24th annual Inventerprise contest sponsored by Bend Research, Inc., a division of Capsugel Dosage Form Solutions, and by Bend-La Pine Schools and Central Oregon Community College. The theme of this year’s contest addresses the high number and different types

Three orphanedcougarcubs — with fuzzy, spotted coats, baby-blue eyes and some surprisingly big voices — have briefly taken up residence behind the scenes at the Oregon Zoo’s veterinary medical center. The 10-day-old cubs — two females and one male — were discovered in Washington state last week.Upon rescuing the orphans,Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifeofficialsquickly

In December 2014, 65-year-old Loretta Macpherson of Sisters went to the emergency room at St. Charles Bend with anxiety symptoms. She later died because she was administered the wrong drug. For Macpherson’s son, Mark, it all seems like yesterday. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her,” Macpherson said Tuesday.

Bend residents could collectively save more than $2.5 million per year, or $70/household, by converting from incandescent to LED light bulbs. Bulbs are available at substantially discounted prices this week as part of Bend Energy Challenge Week. Discounted bulbs will be available at these locations: Wednesday, September 232:00 to 7:00 pm at Bend Park and

In light of the historic visit by Pope Francis to the U.S., Central Oregonians from religious and non-religious backgrounds held an interfaith prayer vigil Tuesday evening. Hours after the pope arrived in Washington to begin his six-day, three-city tour, dozens of Central Oregonians gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bend to mark the special occasion.

Now that it won’t be on the endangered species list, it appears the multi-million-dollar fight over the sage grouse is over. But some on the High Desert say it’s the next steps that are now the most critical. “They are new limits on new development in sage grouse habitat in both BLM’s plan and the

It’s a story that doesn’t happen every day: The reunion in Bend of a father and his children after 20 years of searching. “I’m like a little kid waiting for Christmas,” John, a father, said recently as the big moment approached. Just a short drive away was a destination 20 years in the making. “I’ve

Saturday, is National Public Lands Day. Come celebrate your public lands by volunteering – or just playing – on the national forests in Oregon and Washington! National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. To help you enjoy the magnificent public lands of the Pacific Northwest, the US Forest

The Oregon Public Utility Commission on Tuesday approved PacifiCorp’s proposed rate decreases that will trim the typical utility customer’s bill by just over 3 percent, starting next week. The PUC approved revisions to the residential exchange program (REP) associated with the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, to be effective October 1. The

Prineville police Capt. Dale Cummins will be sworn in next March 1 as the new Prineville police chief, succeeding Les Stiles, the city announced Tuesday. In August 2014, former Deschutes County sheriff Les Stiles was chosen to serve as interim police chief in the wake of Eric Bush’s tumultuous departure. Stiles was tasked with a

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on Tuesday relaxed fishing restrictions at North Twin Lake, west of La Pine, which is scheduled to be chemically treated this fall to remove unwanted brown bullhead catfish. The agency plans to treat North Twin Lake to remove the illegally introduced brown bullhead in order to improve the

A 16-year-old Antelope resident escaped serious injury Tuesday morning when her car left Highway 97 in Madras and struck a power pole, sending lines falling onto the highway, Oregon State Police reported. Troopers and other emergency personnel responded to the crash around 7 a.m. just south of the junction of highways 97 and 26. According

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Tuesday his proposal to measurably reduce carbon pollution over the next decade through a series of incentives for clean energy and the promotion of new technologies in the private sector. Wyden unveiled his series of next-generation tax incentives at a news conference with Senate colleagues as part of a joint

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and a colleague on Tuesday decried the potential loss or delay of food assistance for millions of Americans if the government shuts down next week — and put the blame, if that happens, squarely on the Republicans. Merkley and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI),